The former world champion has admitted he may sadly never play professional darts again
A former darts world champion has admitted he has fallen out of love with playing the game amid an ongoing battle with dartitis.
Welshman Mark Webster lifted the BDO World Championship title in 2008 but says he may never return to the oche again after years of playing with the brutal, debilitating condition.
Dartitis is often compared to the ‘yips’, an expression used to describe the sudden inability to execute basic functions while playing sport. Some of its most notable victims include Nathan Aspinall, Beau Greaves and five-time world champion Eric Bristow.
During a glittering career, Webster reached a high of world No.6 after switching from the BDO to the rival PDC. He reached the semi-finals of the PDC World Championship twice, including a spectacular run in 2011 that saw the Denbigh resident dump out sixteen-time champion Phil ‘the Power’ Taylor in a five-set to two victory.
But things quickly derailed for ‘Webby’ soon after as dartitis began to creep in, with a match at Minehead in 2017 against Daryl Gurney taking a particularly brutal toll, leaving the left-hander in tears afterwards. He last featured at Alexandra Palace in 2018 and took the decision to take an indefinite break from the sport in 2020.
“I’m really anxious playing darts now,” Webster told the Tops and Tales podcast. “So, for example, if you wanted me to come to your local club and play in some players, I’m just not interested. I don’t want that sort of appearance anymore.
“I’ve probably fallen out of love with playing the game now, which is a shame. But it’s because of the dartitis, it lingered for ages. It brought me to tears after games because I thought this could be the end.”
He added: “Michael van Gerwen came up to me and said, ‘I feel sorry for you mate,’ because I was all over the place. I was stumbling. I was panicking in games. People were watching me fall apart.”
Thankfully, things have improved for Webster who has since embarked on a successful broadcasting career. The 42-year-old Sky Sports pundit is a regular sight at all the major tournaments offering his expertise, including this year’s Worlds.
“I really enjoy commentating as it keeps me involved in the sport and I see some great talent coming through,” the former plumber told sponsor Monarch Water in 2022. At first I was a little bitter that I couldn’t play, but now I love it, being able to be with friends and watch the sport.”
